PARIS (France) - Has there ever been a 'Group of Death' quite like the one we are about to be served at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024?
There's the reigning FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 and defending Olympic Games champions USA, the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 winners Belgium, Tokyo 2020 and FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 runners-up Japan and debutantes Germany who will pose plenty of problems.
Here's how the much talked about Group C is shaping up.
The Favorite: USA
Still setting the bar higher than anyone else, USA will retain their almost mandatory status as Group favorites. However, they have never quite had a challenge like this one so early at a major tournament - or at least in recent memory.
Often they turn up the volume as a tournament unfolds, but the fact they will be facing Belgium, Germany and Japan means they need to start making a noise early.
USA have their usual star-laden roster and countless options because of their depth. They will want to set an early tone and send a message that nobody is going to take their Olympic crown. With A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier leading, they can make sure this happens - 'Group of Death' or not.
The Underdog: Germany
Newcomers to the event, Germany could barely have faced a more difficult task than the one they face - especially with their limited major tournament experience.
But on the flip side, they are capable of turning from underdog into challenger because of the talent they have - along with the ability to play intense and very physically.
With Alexis Peterson, they have a top-level scoring guard and it adds a major splash of hot sauce on their previous dish. This was based on size and power because of their impressive wing and frontcourt rotation. With Peterson, Satou Sabally and Leonie Fiebich, they can be the ones to help Germany make history and maybe drop their underdog label.
The Pivotal Game: Belgium vs Japan
At Tokyo 2020, these two teams provided a Quarter-Finals game for the ages, an absolute classic and a contest that ranks so hig, it is considered one of the best women's matchups ever. In the end, Japan came out on top, 86-85, to make the Semi-Finals.
Even if both have new coaches in situ, the dynamics of their respective basketball ethos have not changed hugely, meaning their attractive style of team basketball still has many fans wanting to watch them. In a Group C context, it's an incredible game not only from a beautiful basketball standpoint but with what it means to the winner's and loser's chances.
The Open Question: Will third place be good enough?
Nobody knows how the Groups will pan out, but with only the top two teams guaranteed to make the Quarter-Finals, there will be a lot of emphasis on third spot. The nation that occupies that position in the Group may or may not advance. Only two of the three third-placed teams will go to Bercy, Paris.
With USA always capable of imposing a heavy loss on any opponent and with Group C arguably holding the best underdog in Germany who will be difficult to beat (let alone comprehensively), point difference might mean that third place is not good enough.
More?
Don't forget to check the Team Profiles for: Belgium, Germany, Japan and USA.
FIBA